As someone who immerses himself in power rankings, judgments, and accolades, I find this part of the calendar to be one of the more underrated portions of the sports year. Typically, at the end of July and early August, within a week of each other, we get the Baseball Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
This year, things are slightly different, with a two week gap between the two ceremonies. Baseball inducted its class last weekend, and football inducts its class a week from tomorrow, on August 8. The football class has no Texans ties, but the baseball class had two former Astros from the early 2000s — second baseman Jeff Kent and outfielder Carlos Beltran.
Astros fans are generally fond of both of those players. Kent has some huge moments in his two seasons with the team, and Beltran had one of the greatest postseasons in baseball history in 2004, with eight home runs. Beltran’s body of work as an Astro gets complicated with his return in 2017, in which the team won the World Series, but got caught stealing signs in a scheme that is largely viewed as Beltran’s brainchild.
The induction of both former Astros did make me wonder, though, how many Astros fans were there for the induction. Generally, the higher profile and more beloved an icon, the more fans are likely to make the pilgrimage to Cooperstown, Canton, or Springfield, where the three big Halls of Fame are located.
Subsequently, after coming to the conclusion that there were likely very few Astros fans in Cooperstown that weekend (no disrespect to Kent nor Beltran, but they’re not ICONIC Astros), I wondered to myself exactly which Houston athletes are worth making the trip for their Hall of Fame inductions.
So, here you go, the definitive power ranking of whose induction ceremonies you should spend your time and money attending:
NON NEGOTIABLE, MUST GO TO CEREMONY – Jose Altuve, J.J. Watt
I missed the recent inductions of Jeff Bagwell about a decade ago, and Andre Johnson two years ago, and vowed that if it’s a true franchise icon going into the respective Hall, I would be there. The two biggest sports icons of this century in Houston are Altuve and Watt, and it’s not even close. I will crawl to those induction ceremonies, if I have to.
SERIOUS CONSIDERATION – Justin Verlander, Danielle Hunter
I’ve been very open on my feelings about Verlander’s stature within Astros lore. I think he is the greatest pitcher in franchise history, with two Cy Young awards and a runner up for the Cy, as well. It’s not a “crawl to Cooperstown” level induction, but I’d give serious thought to going. Hunter is interesting, because he’s only been a Texan for two seasons, but in that time, he’s been an amazing player, piled up two double digit sack seasons, and been one of the biggest reasons the Texans’ defense is elite. He’s also a Houston area native, which bumps him up the ladder.
IF I’M IN THE AREA – DeAndre Hopkins, Zack Greinke, James Harden, Chris Paul, Tyrann Mathieu, Kevin Durant
These are all players who are undeniably great, with perhaps some elements of the relationship that make “serious consideration” a little complicated. However, if I happened to be within driving distance of Canton, Cooperstown, or Springfield, and a ticket to the induction was reasonable, I’d absolutely attend. Honestly, of the half dozen names in this category, the one I’d really be intrigued by is Greinke, based solely on how bizarre his speech might be.
NO F-NG WAY – Gerrit Cole, Russell Westbrook, Framber Valdez
These are former Houston athletes who, on principle, I wouldn’t attend their induction, even if you paid for my travel and tickets. Cole seemed like he couldn’t get out of here fast enough after the 2019 playoffs, and oh by the way, he went to the Yankees. I hated Westbrook before he became a Rocket, tolerated him as a Rocket, and now I hate him again. Framber’s plight is kind of sad, more than anything. I really liked Framber, but his insolent final few months as an Astro hang over his legacy like a poop stench. I don’t like poop stenches.
TOO EARLY TO TELL if there’s a convo to be had – Will Anderson, Derek Stingley, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Yordan Alvarez
These names listed in the first few buckets are players whose Hall of Fame resumes have rounded into form. Fortunately, we have a wave of young players in town who are on track to be in conversations like these, either via accolades, via the “eye test” on their talent level, or both. Of the names listed above, the two most likely to wind up in the Watt/Altuve bucket someday are Will Anderson and Yordan Alvarez, provided both stay healthy through their prime seasons.
